Interweaving Nature and History

August 14, 2014

When traveling on the Delaware and Lehigh Trail, visitors are treated to an experience that interweaves nature and history. The trail traverses mountains and follows rivers, tracing a route once designated for 19th century commerce.

In the 1800s, the Delaware and Lehigh Canals were built to transport coal and other goods to southern markets. These canals spurred the growth of many small towns and businesses along the way. Massive flooding in 1862 caused significant damage to the canal system, and railroad lines became the primary form of transit to ship timber, coal, iron, and steel through Pennsylvania to larger markets.

The canals, which were used until the 1940s, were later sold to public and private entities for recreational use. The main line railroad, which navigated across the Lehigh Gorge, was abandoned in 1972. Planners seized on this opportunity, and today the D&L Trail is the recreational lifeline of the region, connecting visitors to the Lehigh Gorge State Park and points of interest throughout the Delaware and Lehigh Canals National Heritage Area.

Thanks to the Keystone Fund, this route is a beautiful destination for outdoor enthusiasts and boasts one of the most impressive rail-trails in Pennsylvania. The 165-mile trail cuts through 4,500 acres of river gorge parkland along the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers, weaving past stunning landscapes, historic towns, dramatic waterfalls, and the remnants of the Lehigh and Delaware canals.

The D&L Trail also contributes to the vitality of the region’s economy. A 2012 survey recorded 282,796 annual visits, resulting in a total annual economic impact of $19 million. Of this, $16 million is estimated to have been directly injected into the local economy.

The Keystone Fund has enabled local and regional partners to create a tourist destination, preserve the region’s heritage, and showcase the natural resources that abound just beyond the trail.

Fun Fact: In 1829, naturalist and painter John Audubon traveled to the region to search for new varieties of birds to paint. There, he found and painted dozens of birds and described in his journal the natural beauty of wetlands, woods and mountains. The area is referred to as Audubon’s Lehigh Reach.